Chipu put half a century past Senegal in Barthes Trophy opener

After months of anxious waiting, Nyayo National Stadium finally played hosts to the opening match of the rugby U20 Barthes Trophy pitting hosts and defending champions Kenya against West African side Senegal on Saturday afternoon.

The tournament that suffered from the severe effects of the coronavirus pandemic had only been left with three contesting teams from an initially scheduled eight; Kenya, Senegal and Madagascar the only remaining sides. Nonetheless, things had to move on, and a strict sense of adherence to the COVID-19 protocols greeted the privileged individuals allowed into the event.

The game didn't take long to register its first scores on the board, 2019 tournament winner Matoka Matoka getting the opening try in the match after a clever darting run down the left that evaded tackles from the Senegalese faithfuls, the resultant conversion missed by Arnold Onzere to give Kenya a 5-0 lead by the seventh minute of the game. 

Immediately after that, Senegal tried to offer some resistance, but it was just that, a fizzled resistance as the hosts took charge of proceedings shortly after, camping in the opponents half with certain determination. But despite sustained pressure, the Senegalese were not letting up in denying Chipu from touching down their second try of the game. 

Senegal got wind in their sails after shutting out three near attempts from Kenya, piling sustained pressure for the first time in Kenya's half. That pressure almost paid off after a Chipu infringement offered them a chance to cut down the early lead with a penalty.

The attempted conversion was however unsuccessful as the ball from the Senegalese player veered to the left side of the posts. 

Left lock Andrew Wangila was then forced off the game after just 25 minutes with a nasty knee injury that forced the young man to be stretchered off.

Chipu then showed Senegal how it is done from a penalty when Matoka extended Kenya's lead to 8-0 after he successfully drilled in one following an infringement.

Minutes away from the half time whistle, The U20 side extended their lead with the second try of the game, William Opaka getting on the end of a brilliant flow in play from a Chipu scrum to go into the half time break with Chipu leading 13 -0.

Senegal came charging off the blocks at the start of the second half, but they had nothing to show for it. Chipu on the other hand had loads to show for it as Ibrahim Ayodi went over the try line for a center post try, easy pickings for Matoka who converted to take the scores to 20 for Chipu by the 50th minute.

Just five minutes later, Chipu mauled their way to the tryline before star man Matoka sliced the posts to extend Kenya's lead.The Senegalese recorded their first score of the day after Assane Ndiane kicked in a penalty conversion to get the game at 27-3.

Two tries in a space of three minutes from William Opaka then saw Chipu further stretch the lead to 37-3.

Captain John Baraka then lead by example as he fended off two defenders with a great solo run in the 75th minute to take the game to 42-3 after a

n unsuccessful conversion by Onzere. Matoka then took the game to 45-3 with a successful penalty conversion with just ten minutes left on the clock. There was still time left for Chipu to get to the half century mark with a final try just before the hooter, the game ending 50-3 in Kenya's favour.